'Listen, they're probably the best in the world at the moment – it's great,' he said, before declaring that he may invest in an expensive bottle of wine for the occasion, but would not be sharing it.

'I'll be drinking it myself,' Yorkshireman Warnock added.

The hosts battled hard and went in level at the break when striker Danny Rose cancelled out Bluebirds defender Bruno Ecuele Manga's opener.

But the Championship promotion-chasers upped the tempo following the interval and a brace from Junior Hoilett and an Anthony Pilkington strike mean Guardiola will take his Premier League pacesetters to South Wales rather than Nottinghamshire.

Not that Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan will be welcome for the big match. 'I think the fans deserve that and everyone else such as Vincent because they've put a lot into this season so they deserve their reward,' said Warnock.

'But I hope he won't be there because we've lost the last three games that he's been there – so we've banned him and we've done well.'